501(c)(3) Project Analysis
for NFHP
National Fish Habitat Board Meeting
Salt Lake City, UT
June 25-26, 2013
A Model
Mission/Goals
Purpose, Direction
Strategic Issues
Govern
National Fish Habitat
Board
Manage
NFHP Staff
Programs
Conservation Delivery by
Board and FHPs
Strategy
2nd Edition Action Plan
Life-Cycle of Charitable Programs
Sponsored
Program
Organizational
Maturity
Incorporation
Key Issues Addressed in Analysis
Benefits
Risks
Costs
Funding
Span of Control
Financial
Branding
Liability
Efficiencies
Advocacy
Agility
Prospective Costs
Fundraising Objectives
Fundraising Objectives
Secure sufficient funding to support the basic operations of 18 FHPs while
increasing the level of project funding available to each FHP.
Secure sufficient funding for the science and data needs of the Partnership.
Secure sufficient direct funding for the operations of the National Fish Habitat
Board.
Establish financial controls and accounting procedures that maximize the level of
funding for the objectives above while creating Partnership-wide cost efficiencies.
Branding Objectives
Branding Objectives
Leverage the National Fish Habitat Partnership into a top-of-mind
habitat conservation brand in the conservation community and
with anglers.
Leverage the 10 Waters to Watch campaign into an annual public
relations endeavor that provides the counterpart to American
Rivers’ Most Endangered Rivers campaign.
Advocacy Objectives
Advocacy Objectives
Secure passage of the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act and
annual appropriations to support the Act, and increase annual
appropriations for aquatic habitat conservation overall through
education and advocacy.
Leverage the National Fish Habitat Partnership Coalition into an
effective voice for fish and aquatic habitat conservation at the
federal and state level.
Span of Control
National Fish Habitat Board
Aquatic Habitat Conservation
National Policy
Coordination of the
Partnership/Partnership
Communications
Fundraising
Brand Development and
Marketing
Advocacy
FHP Review and Approval
FHP Guidance
FHP Umbrella Non-Profit
Conservation Project Support
Science and Data
Affiliated 501(c)(3)
NFH Board Staff
Sample General and Admin Costs
Expense
Amount
Rent ($55/ft x 500/ft)
Supplies
Duplication
Insurance
Bank Fees
Telephone
Audit
IT
Website
Contingency
Meeting Expenses
$27,500
$2000
$5000
$4000
$3000
$2500
$10,000
$2000
$2000
$2000
$5000
Long-Term Cost Assumptions
Expense
Considerations
Personnel
It is assumed that a small non-profit, based in DC, would
operate with a small staff. We would build a staff that could
ultimately include a manager, a project specialist, and a
communications and marketing coordinator geared at
fulfilling the role of the non-profit. This would be done on a
pay-as-you-go basis.
Travel
It can be assumed that the staff would be required to travel
for NFHP purposes. As a comparison point, AFWA budgets
appx. $1750/trip for estimating purposes.
Programs
The programs of the non-profit, based on the span of
control identified in this document, would include grassroots
advocacy, marketing, fundraising, and conservation project
support. These programs would be direct costs for the nonprofit and would drive the overall budget structure.
Motion
• The National Fish Habitat Partnership staff is charged with
working to establish a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation
using a phased, check-in approach. A workgroup of Board
members is created to work with staff on this project. The
workgroup is charged with oversight and with approval for
moving to each step.
Staff shall work with partners to minimize the start-up costs for
the corporation, but may use non-federal funds not to exceed
$5,000 to complete the incorporation and tax exemption. If
additional funds are required, staff must request approval for
that expenditure from the National Fish Habitat Board.
Motion Cont’d
The phased approach includes three steps
1. Project initiation and document creation.
•
•
•
establish a board workgroup
draft and finalize articles of incorporation and bylaws
establish a name
2. Incorporation.
•
•
•
•
•
•
secure a registered agent
secure a Federal Employer Identifcation Number
select the incorporators and the initial board of directors
adopt a governance model and record keeping system for official records
register with state unemployment bureau
obtain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
3. Tax exempt application.
•
•
•
•
submit a tax exemption request to secure group exemption for the new corporation and the FHPs
file for state and/or local tax exemptions
file for charitable solicitation
apply for non-profit mailing permit